In mid -August, Darmstadt's mayor, Hanno Benz, made a special tour of the home settlement to maintain contact with the small shops based there and get an idea of their current challenges. The focus was on three long-established companies: the stationery store "Dingsda", "Martha's butcher" and the "Heimstätten-Apotheke". These shops are not only known for their products and services, but also as important contact points for the residents of the settlement and all three have their own topics.
A heart for local trade: a visit to "Dingsda stationery"
Mayor Benz started the start of his tour in the "Dingsda" stationery store. The shop, which is part of the home site, is led by Silvia Jeske-Wedel, who takes passionate about the needs of her customers. In the conversation, the owner of various problems knows how to report: "Customers appreciate our personal advice, but the competition through online trade and rising wages are a real challenge". However, one thing is existential for them. "If Postbank goes out here as announced, I have to close the shop," she reports to the mayor, adding: "Postbank customers not only do banking here, they also buy other products from us. To this end, HEG Mobilo broke the ticket machine in front of my door. Through all of these factors, there is less and less frequency, ”says Jeske-Wedel. Benz listened carefully and promised to stand up for her concerns: “I will follow up with Postbank. You have to see what is feasible. In general, the variety of retail is an essential part of our city and districts. We have to find ways together to maintain and promote them, ”he said.
Tradition and quality: a stop at "Martas butcher's shop"
The second stop led Hanno Benz to "Martha's butcher's shop", where he was warmly and heartily received by owner Marta Balek. The butcher shop is known far beyond the settlement for its high-quality meat and sausages. In conversation with the mayor, the boss expressed her concerns about the increasing energy and raw material prices, which make it increasingly difficult to keep the high quality standards and at the same time offer affordable prices. Benz asks whether the new e-center in the immediate vicinity is a problem. "No, we don't feel that so much. We have our regular customers, the settlers support us. Customer Karena Wagner can also confirm this: “We live in Bessungen, where we are unfortunately affected by the butcher. Or luckily, as you can see. Because born out of necessity, we tried Martas butcher shop and were enthusiastic about the first purchase: the friendliness, speed and competence of the staff, the quality of the meat and sausage products as well as the wide range ”. Another topic was the German bureaucracy for her: “My Polish conclusion was not recognized here. So I had to retrain because of the shop opening during ongoing operations, ”says Balek and adds:“ I can also train, would also like to do that, only nobody reports. It appears that nobody wanted to learn the butcher trade anymore ”. And as a further problem, it also performs the extinction of the small shops. “Localists are increasingly replacing the local craft. That is not well received everywhere. The customer frequency goes back ”. Hanno Benz also promised Marta Balek: “It is great to learn from the first source where the shoe presses at the dealers. I could imagine that a citizens' office could help here to create a little more frequency, ”said the head of the city.
Health on site: the "Heimstätten-Apotheke" as the last station
Hanno Benz concluded his visit in the "Heimstätten-Apotheke", which plays a central role in the medical care of the settlement. Owner Anja Schüler described that the demand for pharmaceutical products, advice and health services are at a constant level. “We can't actually complain. For this we also try to try the best possible service, for example in the procurement and provision of medication. Our delivery service also helps with messengers from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. ”. She actually doesn't have real problems. The competition from online trading is great, but that makes up for the loyalty of the customers on site to some extent. Then she remembered: "More bicycle stands and more parking spaces would really help us," said the owner. Hanno Benz replied that more bicycle stands would be feasible, but at the expense of a car parking lot. The pharmacy does not want this again: “We are already so scarce with parking space. Not a single parking lot can be lost, ”says student. One would see what is possible from the urban side, whether Benz found a consensus for the moment.
A tour with valuable insights
The visit of Mayor Hanno Benz in the home settlement was characterized by lively conversations and an open ear for the concerns of the local dealers. "The direct exchange with the local people is essential for me in order to understand the needs and problems of the citizens as well as the dealer and to be able to respond specifically," said Benz at the end of his tour.
